RadioBanter - View Single Post - Amp Design Concept -- Preliminary

Frank Gilliland · September 22nd 06, 12:14 AM posted to rec.radio.cb

On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:02:04 -0400, wrote in
:

Reliable -- In case you haven't been paying attention, the fundamental
concept of the design is longevity. These amps are going to be around
and working long after you and your amps are dead and buried.
**This is all talk right now. The fact that you will be using
components such as connectors for board-to-board interfacing does not
lend itself to high reliability.**

I didn't suspect you were tnom but you just gave yourself away.
Regardless, have you looked inside your computer lately? Did you
notice all those 'unreliable' connectors?

Computers become outdated in about five years. You would expect
connectors to last at least that long. Mobile amps stay in use much
longer so that your comparison to computer connectors is an apple
to orange comparison.

I have a VIC-20, a C-64, a CoCo II, an original IBM PC (256K), a
generic 386DX-40, and the computer I'm typing on right now which I
slapped together about 10 years ago. All of them work fine and none of
them have connector problems, although I do have to blow the dust out
once in a while.

When was the last time you
opened up a piece of electronic equipment with a major brand name like
HP? Kenwood? GE? Motorola? Uniden? Do you really think that CONNECTORS
are an issue? Naw..... you are just looking for a reason to whine.

If you say your modular design is reliable then you must first define
reliable............HP's, Kenwoods, Motorolas that have been in use
for thirty years or more will all have connector problems.

On one of my benches I have an HP-1707B, an Eico 950B, and a Heathkit
IG-72. All are older than 30 years. I let my nephews use this bench.
Nothing on the bench has connector problems.

If there is one general type of electronic equipment that has a wide
variety of -lots- of connectors it's the reel-to-reel deck. I have a
large collection of vintage decks including Akai, Rheem/Roberts, TEAC,
Sony, Wollensak, Ampex, Concertone, Viking.....etc, etc. Most of them
are more than 30 years old and none of them have, or had, connector
problems except for the occasional loose phone jack.

When I was in the USMC the only connectors I had to replace were on
coax cables (the operators were quite rough with them) and the big,
bulky interconnection cables used on the command amtraks (which had
about 20-30 radios and intercom units and were heavily abused). None
of the connectors inside the radios ever needed replacement.

When I was working at the commercial radio shop the story was about
the same; mostly coax connectors and the occasional power plug.

During my time at the station, the only connectors that needed
replacement were ones that had frequent and punishing use, mostly 1/4"
plugs & jacks and XLR's. I don't suspect that the connectors in this
amp will get that kind of use.

So for you to categorically declare that any equipment that has "been
in use for thirty years or more will all have connector problems" is
complete and utter bull****.

If those
same connectors were solder joints you would eliminate that aspect
of reliability.

Wrong. Interconnection wires that are soldered have a high rate of
failure in abusive environments. That's why auto manufacturers use
connectors, even under the hood (and out of the nearly two dozen
vehicles I've owned, none of them had any connection problems,
either).

Amplifiers should be made to last even longer. Many
forty year old amplifiers are still in use today.

You should incorporate standard connectors for higher voltage lower
current lines. Use a combination connector for any combination of
higher current or lower voltage on a line. I don't have a specific
brand or link but these combination connectors can be plugged in for
ease of installation/adjustment and then soldered in place once you
are certain that you are done with your adjustment/installation.

If I take your magic antenna and stroke it real hard with an old sock,
will Barbara Eden spurt forth from the end and grant me three wishes?